Snowboard

ABSTRACT

A snowboard according to the disclosure includes a deck body (A) having a panel-type effective edge part ( 100 ) and nose and tail sections  200  respectively extending at an upwardly inclined angle from opposite sides of the effective edge part ( 100 ), wherein the deck body (A) is detachably provided with a plurality of laminated deck plates including at least a transparent deck plate, with an LED ( 50 ) disposed therein, such that the deck plates and the LED are able to be easily replaced, and wherein the nose and tail sections ( 200 ) have internal spaces (S) for diffusing light from the LED.

CROSS REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims foreign priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0083702, filed on Jul. 16, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates, in general, to a snowboard and, more particularly, to a snowboard, in which a sheet or sheets of deck plates can be replaced with other plate(s) according to a user's taste, and which is easy to repair when damaged, and which is provided with LEDs for improved user's safety and decoration of the snowboard.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, winter sports include skiing, snowboarding, skating, etc. Among them, snowboarding was developed into a winter sport in the United States in the 1960s and was subsequently introduced in South Korea in the early 1980s, where it is currently becoming widely popular as a winter sport.

Such snowboarding is a recreational activity that involves speedily descending snowy slopes, such as on a mountain or hill, using a snowboard attached to a rider's feet while turning the travelling direction via adjustment of the rider's feet as well as via shifting of the rider's centre of gravity. The snowboard includes a panel-type deck, boots, and bindings for the attachment of the boots onto the top of the deck. Here, the deck is classified into categories for Alpine snowboarding, freestyle snowboarding, all round type snowboarding and the like, depending on the performance of turning, weight or the like.

The board deck consists of laminated deck plates made of a variety of materials, such as wood, synthetic resin or the like; and is manufactured into articles of various shapes and colors to satisfy the riders' tastes.

However, a currently available deck has problems in that, even if only some of deck plates are damaged, the entire deck itself should be replaced with a new deck, which is costly. Further, a user often purchases a variety of decks to satisfy his/her taste, which is also costly.

In the meantime, to ensure the safety of a snowboarder, a snowboard equipped with a light-emitting means was proposed in Korean Utility Model No. 20-0280228 (referred hereinafter to as ‘Related art Document’).

While the snowboard of the Related art Document has advantages of being capable of easily alerting somebody to a rider's location using the light-emitting means 20, thereby improving the rider's safety, the light-emitting means 20 are coupled to opposite sides of a deck 10, not detachably, but fixedly, so, if the light-emitting means 20 fail, the deck itself should be replaced.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Accordingly, the disclosure has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and is intended to provide a snowboard, in which a sheet or sheets of deck plates can be replaced with other plate(s) according to a user's taste, and which is easy to repair when damaged, and which is detachably provided with LEDs for improved user's safety and decoration of the snowboard.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the object, in an aspect, the disclosure provides a snowboard including a deck body A having a panel-type effective edge part 100 and nose and tail sections 200 respectively extending at an upwardly inclined angle from opposite sides of the effective edge part 100, wherein the deck body A is detachably provided with a plurality of laminated deck plates including at least a transparent deck plate, with an LED 50 disposed therein, such that the deck plates and the LED are able to be easily replaced, and wherein the nose and tail sections 200 have internal spaces S for diffusing light from the LED.

Advantageous Effects

According to the disclosure, since the plurality of deck plates constituting the deck body are detachably coupled together, even if one or more of deck plates are damaged, damaged deck plate(s) can be easily replaced, increasing the convenience of use and reducing maintenance costs. Further, since a user can purchase and attach only an uppermost deck plate of various shapes and colors, the user can modify his/her snowboard according to his/her taste without having to replace the entire snowboard.

Further, since an LED is detachably mounted in the deck body, the safety of the user and an appearance of the snowboard are improved, and if the LED is to be replaced with another, owing to the failure or desired color-change thereof, the LED is easily replaced after the deck plates are disassembled.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the structure of a conventional snowboard;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the structure of a snowboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the snowboard according to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a concave-convex coupling structure applied to the snowboard according to the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a view of an exemplary coupling structure of the snowboard according to the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view of an exemplary nose/tail section of the snowboard in which a plasma-generating part is formed according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view of an exemplary nose/tail section of the snowboard in which light-diffusion part is formed according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view of an exemplary nose/tail section of the snowboard in which optical fibers are provided according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views of an exemplary nose/tail section of the snowboard under which a rotation hemisphere is attached according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

MODE FOR INVENTION

The disclosure is related to a snowboard, in which a sheet or sheets of deck plates can be replaced with other plate(s) according to a user's taste, and which is easy to repair when damaged, and which is provided with LEDs for improved user's safety and decoration of the snowboard. The snowboard includes a deck body A having a panel-type effective edge part 100 and nose and tail sections 200 respectively extending at an upwardly inclined angle from opposite sides of the effective edge part 100, wherein the deck body A is detachably provided with a plurality of laminated deck plates including at least a transparent deck plate, with an LED 50 disposed therein, such that the deck plates and the LED are able to be easily replaced, and wherein the nose and tail sections 200 have internal spaces S for diffusing light from the LED.

The disclosure is not limited to embodiments to be described below, but may be implemented into diverse forms by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

The snowboard according to the disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9B.

As shown in FIG. 2, the snowboard includes a deck body A having a panel-type effective edge part 100 and nose and tail sections 200 respectively extending at an upwardly inclined angle from opposite sides of the effective edge part 100. The deck body A may change in shape according to rider's preferred snowboarding styles such as Alpine snowboarding, freestyle snowboarding, etc.

The effective edge part 100 means a portion that actually produces friction against the snow surface while a rider plays snowboarding with his/her feet attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 2, the effective edge part 100 thus has binding fasteners 110 thereon for fastening bindings to which boots are coupled.

In use, bindings are first fastened to the binding fasteners 110 and then a rider who wore the boots fixes his/her boots to the bindings. Herein, LEDs and pressure sensors may be disposed close to the binding fasteners 110 in order to turn on the LEDs when a rider stands on the effective edge part so that the pressure sensors detect the rider's load on the binding fasteners 110. This improves the appearance of the snowboard and facilitates coupling of the boots to the bindings at night owing to light-emission of the LEDs.

As shown in FIG. 3, the deck body A is composed of a plurality of laminated deck plates, which are coupled together with a concave-convex coupling structure which consists of some protrusions and depressions on opposite facing surfaces. Thus, the deck plates can be detachably coupled together using the concave-convex coupling structure, so, even if one or more of the deck plates constituting the deck body A are damaged, only the damaged one(s) can be disassembled and replaced. Further, a user can only purchase and mount an uppermost deck plate of e.g. various shapes and colors in order to satisfy his/her taste. Thus, convenience of use is improved and maintenance costs are considerably reduced.

While the number of the protrusions and depressions, which constitute the concave-convex coupling structure, is not particularly restricted, higher number is preferred for increased coupling force. Further, while the concave-convex coupling structure may be configured such that protrusions are formed on one facing surface and depressions are formed in the corresponding facing surface, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the configuration may be such that protrusions and depressions are alternately formed on one facing surface and corresponding depressions and protrusions are alternately formed on the other facing surface in order to further improve the coupling force.

Further, a lowermost deck plate of the deck plates constituting the deck body A, which will be in contact with the snow surface during snowboarding, is integrally provided with an upwardly protruding coupling strip 31 around an edge thereof as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the rest of the deck plates is received and coupled in the lowermost deck plate. The above-mentioned concave-convex coupling structure for the assembly/disassembly of the deck plates is reinforced by such a coupling structure using the coupling strip 31 as shown in FIG. 5, so that the deck plates can be prevented from being accidently disassembled especially from the edge of the deck body during snowboarding.

In the meantime, the deck body A is provided with LEDs 50 therein, in order to easily alert somebody to a rider's location for the rider's safety, as well as to improve the appearance of the snowboard if LEDs are arranged in a pattern that a user desires. Here, the deck body A also includes a power source to supply power to the LEDs 50 and a controller to control the LEDs 50.

At least one of the deck plates of the deck body A is provided with a mounting groove for the LED 50, and as set forth above, the deck plates are detachably assembled using the concave-convex coupling structure. Thus, if the LED 50 fails or is intended to replace with another for change of LED's color, the LED 50 can be easily replaced by disassembling only the deck plate having the LED therein.

At least one of deck plates is formed of a transparent material to allow light from the LED 50 to be transmitted therethrough. Alternatively, all or some of the deck plates mat be formed of a transparent material in order to allow light from the LED to be emitted in the direction that a user desires.

For example, in FIG. 5 in which the deck body A consists of an upper plate 10, a middle plate 20, and a lower plate 30, an LED 50 is disposed in the middle plate 20, and the lower plate 30 is provided with a coupling strip 31 around an edge thereof, at least the middle plate 20 and a portion of the coupling strip 31 may be transparent in order to allow light from the LED 50 to be transmitted to the outside.

Further, light emitted from the LED 50 is reflected at arbitrary angles by the protrusions and the depressions of the concave-convex coupling structure. Thus, the amount and direction of emitted light can be adjusted by forming the shape of the protrusions and depressions into diverse shapes such as a circle, a polygon or the like.

Although not shown in the drawings, it may be configured such that an LED-mounted silicone PCB is mounted in the deck body A and the deck body A is formed of a transparent material, thereby allowing light emitted from the LED to be transmitted through the silicone PCB, i.e. through the entire deck body A.

Further, the deck body A may be further provided with a variety of sensors such as a speed sensor or the like, via which the direction or brightness of light emitted from the LED 50 can be adjusted. For example, it may be configured such that, when a user stands up on the deck body A while wearing the boots attached thereto, the LED 50 emits flashing light slowly, whereas, when the user plays snowboarding, flashing light is rotatably emitted from the LED at a varying speed depending on the snowboarding speed. Further, the LEDs 50 may be turned on serially in the same direction or opposite direction with respect to the traveling direction of the deck body A. In addition, the brightness of the LEDs 50 may be adjusted in response to the snowboarding speed.

Each of the deck plates of the deck body A is formed of other material such as woods, synthetic resin, or the like, or a composite material of many materials. For example, the deck plate may be formed of a composite material consisting of a thermosetting resin and a base material such as paper or glass. Such a deck plate provides excellent electrical properties, such as insulation resistance, a dielectric constant, etc., and excellent physiochemical properties such as heat resistance, flame retardancy, alkali resistance, damp proof property, mechanical strength, etc., facilitating machining of the deck plate.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a reinforcing framework 40 may be disposed in the deck body A in order to prevent the deck body A from being curved or broken during snowboarding. The reinforcing framework 40 may be formed of woods, synthetic resin or the like. Particularly, a light, age-hardenable alloy, i.e. duralumin, may also be employed. When the reinforcing framework 40 made of duralumin is employed in the deck body A, the number of the deck plates of the deck body A may be reduced.

The reinforcing framework 40 may be provided on at least one of the deck plates of the deck body A, and in this case, the deck plate formed with the reinforcing framework 40 may be provided with a coupling structure consisting of a plurality of protrusions and depressions for the engagement with other deck plate on the rest of a portion where the reinforcing framework 40 is installed.

The reinforcing framework 40 may be formed into diverse shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing framework 40 has a shape in which an edge portion is formed inwards along the edge of the deck plate, to which the reinforcing framework is installed, thereby reinforcing the edge section of the deck body A, on which contact load against the snow surface is concentrated, and longitudinal and horizontal framework parts, which are perpendicular to each other, are formed on the effective edge part 100 of the deck plate, to which a rider's load is heavily applied, thereby reinforcing the entire deck body A.

For example, in the case where the deck body A consists of the upper plate 10, the middle plate 20, and the lower plate 30 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the reinforcing framework 40 may preferably be installed onto the middle plate 20 in order to most-effectively support the rider's load and to prevent the deck body A from being damaged from the friction against the snow surface. Thus, the reinforcing framework 40 is formed such that the edge portion extends along a circumferential section inwards from the edge of the middle plate 20, and the longitudinal and horizontal framework parts are formed perpendicularly on the effective edge part 100 of the middle plate 20. Herein, the longitudinal direction means the direction towards the opposite nose and tail sections 200.

In the above example, the middle plate 20 is basically formed of synthetic resin, and is provided, on an upper portion thereof, with a mounting groove for the engagement with the reinforcing framework 40. Further, if mounted, an LED 50 is disposed between the mounting groove and the edge of the middle plate 20. Further, preferably, the middle plate 20 is provided, on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, with concave-convex coupling structures for the engagement with the upper plate 10 and the lower plate 30, respectively, on the rest of a portion where the reinforcing framework 40 and the LED 50 are mounted. In the meantime, although not shown in the drawings, the middle plate 20 is preferably provided with a power source, a controller and the like in order to protect circuit devices or the like from external impact. However, such a structure is merely provided for illustrating the structure of the deck plate including the reinforcing framework 40, so the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to the disclosure, a variety of light-emitting means may be formed in the nose/tail sections 200 in order to improve the appearance of the snowboard and to satisfy the user's taste. For example, the light-emitting means may be disposed in the internal space S of the nose/tail section(s) 200 of the middle plate 20, and the middle plate is covered with the upper plate 10 and the lower plate 30, thereby providing diverse types of light-emitting effects. Embodiments will now be described with respect to the light-emitting effects.

Embodiment 1

As shown in FIG. 6, a plasma-producing unit 210 may be disposed in the internal space S of the nose/tail section(s) 200. The plasma-producing unit 210 includes a plasma-producer 211 to produce plasma via the application of high voltage, and an arrester 212 to receive the plasma produced from the plasma-producer 211. Here, the plasma-producing unit 210 has an internal closed space that is vacuumed and then is injected with a small amount of gas. Light emitted from the plasma changes in color depending on the kind of gas injected.

Embodiment 2

As shown in FIG. 7, a light-diffusion unit 220 may be disposed in the internal space S of the nose/tail section(s) 200. The light-diffusion unit 220 includes a plurality of LEDs 221 and a plurality of polygonal reflectors 222. Light emitted from the LEDs 221 arrives at the reflectors 222 and then is diffused and reflected in many directions. As shown in FIG. 7, the reflectors 222 may have, but is not limited to, a hexagonal shape, and the reflectors 222 may be arranged in a regular or irregular pattern.

Embodiment 3

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of optical fibers 230 may be disposed in the internal space S of the nose/tail section(s) 200. Light is emitted from the optical fibers via the application of power source. Thus, a user can obtain a desired light-emitting effect by arranging the optical fibers 230 as desired.

When various kinds of light-emitting means are disposed in the nose/tail section(s) as described above, the internal space near the light-emitting means is preferably surrounded by a transparent material. In addition, the deck body A may be provided with a speaker or the like in order to provide an acoustic effect such as a clap of thunder when light is emitted. Further, the provision of a speed sensor or the like may provide the adjustment of brightness of light or the like depending on the varying speed.

In the meantime, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the nose/tail section(s) 200 may be provided, on a lower surface thereof, with a protruding rotation hemisphere 240. When a rider stands up on the deck board or plays snowboarding so that the deck body A travels in a direction, the rotation hemisphere can act as an axis so that it allows the center of weight of the rider to move towards the nose or tail section 200, allowing the deck body A to rotate as he/she intends to turn. This allows a rider to further enjoy snowboarding. Further, an LED may be disposed in the rotation hemisphere 240 so that, for example, when a rider tries to jump during snowboarding, the LED in the rotation hemisphere 240 is turned on, enabling the rider to accurately check his/her landing point even at night while improving the appearance of the snowboard. 

1. A snowboard comprising: a deck body (A) having a panel-type effective edge part (100) and nose and tail sections (200) respectively extending at an upwardly inclined angle from opposite sides of the effective edge part (100), wherein the deck body (A) is detachably provided with a plurality of detachably-laminated deck plates including at least a transparent deck plate, with an LED (50) disposed therein, such that the deck plates and the LED are able to be easily replaced, and wherein the nose and tail sections (200) have internal spaces (S) for diffusing light from the LED.
 2. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein the deck plates are provided, on opposite facing coupling surfaces, with a concave-convex coupling structure, whereby the deck plates are detachably coupled together.
 3. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein a lowermost deck plate of the deck plates has a coupling strip (31) extending upwards from an edge thereof such that the deck plates other than the lowermost deck plate are surrounded and coupled by the coupling strip.
 4. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein the internal space (S) of the nose or tail section (200) is formed in any one of the deck plates between uppermost and lowermost deck plates.
 5. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein the internal space (S) of the nose or tail section (200) is provided with a plasma-producing unit (210), wherein the plasma-producing unit includes a plasma-producer (211) and an arrester (212) to receive the plasma produced by the plasma-producer (211).
 6. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein the internal space (S) of the nose or tail section (200) is provided with a light-diffusion unit (220), wherein the light-diffusion unit includes a plurality of LEDs (221) and a plurality of polygonal reflectors (222) so that light emitted from the LEDs (221) arrives at the reflectors (222) and then is diffused and reflected in many directions.
 7. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein the internal space (S) of the nose or tail section (200) is provided with a plurality of optical fibers (230) via which light is emitted.
 8. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing framework (40) is disposed in the deck body (A).
 9. The snowboard according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing framework (40) is disposed on at least one of the deck plates of the deck body (A), wherein the reinforcing framework (40) has an edge portion formed inwards along the edge of the at least one deck plate, and perpendicularly-disposed longitudinal and horizontal framework parts formed on the effective edge part (100) of the at least one deck plate.
 10. The snowboard according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing framework (40) is formed of duralumin.
 11. The snowboard according to claim 8, wherein the nose or tail section (200) is provided, on a lower surface thereof, with a protruding rotation hemisphere (240) serving as a rotation axis whereby the deck body (A) changes its direction.
 12. The snowboard according to claim 1, wherein the effective edge part (100) is provided with binding fasteners (110) for fastening bindings, to which boots are coupled, wherein the binding fasteners are each provided with LEDs and pressure sensors along the edge thereof, such that the LEDs emit light when a rider's load is detected by the pressure sensors. 